On a typical Wednesday morning, while Grant is at school, Cole and I swing by Dutch Bros., grab some drinks (Annihilator for me, Not-So-Hot for him), and truck on out to do “the loop”. I started “the loop” waaaay back when Grant was first born. Of course, back then, it was in a totally different city. However, the idea remains the same. I check out some of my favorite stores: home decor, fabric, furniture, scrapbooking - your basic domestic-diva wannabe stuff. I took a bit of a “loop” hiatus for a few years as I was trying to get settled into my new town, discovering new stops along the loop, having another baby, doing some day-care, etc. Truthfully, though, I just forgot about how much personal satisfaction I got out of the ritual. A couple of months back, though, I suddenly found myself free from day-care kids (forever!! wahoo!) which opened up my Wednesday mornings.

And so, one very boring Wednesday morning, I asked Cole, “Do you want to go into town?” (”town” = Salem, around these parts) His excited response was all it took. We hopped in the car, swung through the DB, and kept on going toward Salem.

Then, the memories started flooding back. Memories of the days that I would pack up my newborn (Grant), grab the baby bjorn and begin “the loop” in an attempt to speed through the day until Daddy came home. It was then, when we had NO money and were in major life transitions (new job for Mitch, new baby, no more dual income), that I started to really enjoy window shopping. I’ve never been the type to enjoy spending money that we don’t have. I’m a little tight-fisted. I do like to look and dream, though, and thankfully it doesn’t lead to covetousness! Oh, sure, I WANT things, but I don’t dwell on them, and really, I just like to see what is out there.

Anyway, back then “the loop” consisted of TXMaxx, Marshalls and Tuesday Morning. Nowadays, “the Salem loop” is TJMaxx, sometimes Greenbaums (funky fabric store), Serendipity (vintage furniture), sometimes Spencers Alley (some vintage furniture and some junk), and Running With Scissors (scrapbooking store). We go from Dallas to Salem to Independence and back to Dallas.

Today, of course, was not a typical morning. Grant finished Kindergarten last week, so he joined us, quite begrudgingly. Seriously, though. The kid drove me nuts! Apparently he forgot the days when he loved going shopping with mommy. Of course, he was tucked into the baby bjorn back then, but still. Oh, and I can’t leave out Cole. My sweet, precious little boy brought my patience to the boiling point and cause many threats beginning with, “If I have to tell you to stop running one more time . . . !”

(sigh)

However, the day was not lost. I don’t know WHY I did it, but I actually tried on clothes while at TXMaxx. I NEVER attempt to try on clothes unless my husband is with us. Call it a stroke of insanity . . . or maybe desperation . . . or maybe brilliance!

I walked away with a little black dress to replace the ONE, single little black dress that I have been wearing to every important function for the past 3 years (and there are a lot of them), AND a new classy summer outfit to wear to Mitch’s work-related summer gatherings. Adorable capris and a sorta-blingy tank. Oh, and they look GOOD on me, even before I’ve lost the 15 pounds that I need to start working on losing. (I promise, I did attempt to take pictures of the new items, but the clothes looked fat all spread out like that. They look much nicer on me!)

And THAT is how I spent my Wednesday morning. What did you do?

Check back tomorrow to see what’s going in my shop!! YAY!